Cancer treatment boost by faulty gene discovery

Cancer treatment was given a boost recently with the discovery of two new breast cancer genes.

A study published in Nature Genetics yesterday (March 29th) revealed that the breast cancer risk was up by 12 per cent in women who possessed an abnormal copy of a particular section of genome.

Those who carried two faulty copies of the particular genome were found to have a 23 per cent increased likelihood of getting breast cancer.

Professor Doug Easton, lead author and director of Cancer Research UK's Genetic Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, commented: "These two new genes bring us closer to developing a better test to identify women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer, but there are still many more pieces of the genetic puzzle to find."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, added that the gene could prove crucial in directing effective cancer treatment that would benefit many women.

In other news, a new Cancer Research UK centre has been built in Belfast.